The mobile industry is thriving and shows no signs of slowing down with over 6 billion smartphone users and over 1 billion tablet users across the globe.
Moreover recent reports have revealed that the average person checks his smartphone every 12 minutes, as such when you take into consideration all these factors, the right app could bring in a handsome chunk of change.
That’s right there’s no time like the present to grab the bull by the horns and make your mark on the app world.
However, while helpful development platforms and software programs have made creating an app more attainable than ever before, there are still a few things to keep in mind before you can find yourself down the path of success.
Developing an app requires strategic planning, thoughtful execution and of course great user experience (UX).
In reality, UX should also stand for user expectations. Sure, the experience is important, but today people have had enough experience with app downloads to know what they want and what they don’t.
Forward-thinking sectors are always one step ahead not only of their competition but also what their current and potential customer base may be looking for.
To take a typical example, new no deposit casinos always ensure they go the extra mile to convert site visitors into customers. And no doubt, having a mobile responsive app with all the bows and ribbons definitely helps.
Problem Solve
Before you start assembling a team to execute your vision, it’s important to see whether your app has the potential to succeed.
Start off by considering whether it can provide a solution to an existing problem, then identify the value it can bring to consumers and what makes it different from everything else available currently on the market.
Trust us, your app won’t gain much traction if it’s just another generic idea; you need to offer consumers something unique that there is a tangible demand for.
Give yourself time to understand the purpose of your app and the needs it addresses, as this will give you a clearer picture of your app’s future roadmap and help guide your development journey.
Conduct in-depth market research to assess the viability of your app idea by analyzing existing apps in your niche and initiating a SWOT analysis.
This will help you identify your competitors strengths and weaknesses, as well as any opportunities for growth and improvements. Don’t forget to make a list of your app’s priorities to make sure you and your team are on the same page so you can start off your journey strong.
Pick Your Operating System Wisely
Once you finalize your app’s idea, you need to decide whether your app will work for both iOS and Android users or if it will be created to target one specific operating system.
This decision will directly impact the app’s functionality, as different operating systems may have varying capabilities and restrictions, so you must handle it with a lot of thought and care.
Start by identifying your target audience and researching their demographics to gain insight into their preferences and behaviors. This will help you gauge what operating systems they predominantly use.
Recent statistics have indicated that iOS users are significantly younger than their Android counterparts, with 43% of iPhone users recorded as being between the ages of 18 and 34.
Contrastingly, Android users are generally between the ages of 35 and 54. iPhones have also maintained a lead in major markets, including the US, Canada, Japan, and the UK.
While Android devices have an 85% market share in countries like Indonesia, Iran, Turkey, and Brazil, As such, you should also take into consideration what markets you wish to target and prioritize the operating system that will give you the widest reach.
Different operating systems may have varying capabilities and restrictions. Consider whether your app needs access to specific hardware components, such as the camera or NFC capabilities, as these can differ between platforms.
Research the development guidelines and documentation for each operating system to ensure that your app can deliver the desired experience on the chosen platform.
There is also the option to develop a cross-platform mobile app, which means developing two mobile apps, one for each operating system, at the same time using one code base.
This can be achieved by building a ‘native’ app for each system by using the technologies provided by their respective vendors.
Typically, this will also require at least two different programs, which is something to keep in mind. Languages such as Objective-C or Swift are generally used for iOS, while Java is reserved for Android.
This cost-effective approach will allow you to broaden your target audience and has the potential to add greater business value as you will be able to scale your apps at a faster rate.
Prioritize UX Design
No one wants to use an app that’s difficult to navigate and downright confusing. As such, it’s important to prioritize UX design to ensure your app is both visually appealing and provides a seamless experience, keeping your customers coming back for more.
We suggest conducting user testing before your app goes to market to gain unbiased opinions and gather feedback so you can tackle areas for improvement before launch.
You want to ensure that anyone who downloads your app gets the best possible experience, so make sure you also conduct routine maintenance checks to tackle any bugs that may crop up.
